Machine for the manufacture of fuel briquettes from peat



F b, 17. I925.

* J. C. MORRISON ncumz FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FUEL BRIQUETTES FROM Pan Filed March 26 1923 a Sheets-Shet 1 J. C. MQRRISON MACHINE FORTHE MANUFACTURE OF FUEL BRIQUETTES FROM PEA! Filed March 26, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. C. MORRISON 599% $93 $115 NANUFACQURE OF FUEL BRIQUETTES FROM FEAT Filed March 26. 1923 3 Sheets-Shea 3 Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

PATENT ounce.

JOHN CAMPBELL MORRISON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

memes non Tris n'nnuracruan on stun. narountrrns snort PEACE.

Application filetllltarch 256, 1923. Serial No. 627,851.

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN CAMPBELL lilloa bison, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Detroit, county of l l ayne, and State of Michigan, have invented certaiu new and useful Improvements in ldachines for the lrlanufacture of Fuel Briquettes from Peat, of which the following is a s iecilication.

My present invention relates to machines foithe production of fuel blocks or briquettes from a fibrous material shell as peat; and by what is known in the art as the wet process, the material being first pressed in a plastic and moist condition into the desired form and then allowed to dry in the sun or by artificial heat; producing thus, a hard and dense block of fuel equal in specific gravity to coal.

T he object of my invention is to construct a simple and inexpensive machine that can be mounted on a light metal frame and transported from one small bog to the other by a tractor or other means of propulsion, and used to provide the local farmer or rural districts long distances from coal mines with a good quality of fuel at small cost, without the addition of any) binding material other than that inherent in the peat itself.

The particular object of the machine is to so disrupt the cells of peat toliberate and thoroughly disseminate the tarry and resinous matter contained therein, producing a highly binding mass, which upon shaping and subsequent drying, gives a hard dense briquette, not affected by weather and which does not crumble in the fire, until entirely consumed.

I attain the above obi cuts by a novel treatment of the raw material, which consists first in subjecting the material with a moisture content of about 40%, to alternate shearing and torsional movements so as to thoroughly disintegrate and destroy the fibres and disseminate the tarry binding ma terials throughout the mass.

The second step in my novel treatment consists in breaking down the cellular tissue of the material so as to more thoroughly liberate the binding substances inherent in the raw peat. To this end the material is sub jected to an electrical charge, just at the point of greatest compression, namely, as it exudes from the tapering exit port,-producing an electro-osmotic action which causes the cells to break up; producing a harder and denser final product.

The machine, which forms a part ofniy invention and which embodies the above 'tieatuires, consists, therefore, of two horizontally superimposed cylinders within which areaxially revolving sets of shearing and torsion members, working between close fitting stationary shearing members. The terial is fed in at one end of the upper cylinder by means of a hopper; travels the length of the upper cylinder, and is then forced down into the lower cylinder through an aperture by means of suitable revolving blades. Here the shearing and torsion operation is repeated by similar sets of rotating members until the material reaches the tapering exit port where a quick pitch auger forces the material through the electro forming die where the electrical charge is applied.

Referring to the drawings for a full comprehension of the above,

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation view on line i i-uh of Fig. 4;

V Fig. 2 is a section on line B--B of Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of the two superimposed cylinders;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation view showing the driving mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation view showing the die attachment, and, i

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the tapering exit port showing the hinged attaching means.

The machine, as shown in the figures referred to, consists of steel cylinders 1 and 2, supported in cast iron frame work 3 resting on channel beams 4i. Shafts 5 and 6 supported axially by means of ball-bearings in cylinders 1 and 2 respectively, are rotated in opposite directions by gears 7 and 8. The shearing blades are designated by 9 while the torsion members by 10. Numerals 11-11 are the stationary shearing members, which at the same time help to support the shaft. Blade 12 is set at an angle so as to oppose the torsion members 10, thereby forcing the material down into cylinder :2 through aperture 13. Here the mass is again subjected to a shearing and torsion operation until it reaches the tapering exit port 14, hingedly attached to frame 3, by means of hinge 15 and yoke 16. Within this exit port revolves a quick pitch auger 17,

mounted on the end of main shaft 6, which forces the material against the taper and through the die 18 thus highly compressing the material. The forming die 18 is fitted into the die socket 19, which is hingedly attached to exit port 14, by means of hinge 20 and yoke 21, said forming die consisting of a steel ring in which are mounted an even number of electrodes 22, set in mica insulated pockets. Alternate electrodes are made the positive and negative poles of an electric circuit, not shown. Door 23 is provided so as to make the cylinder easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.

lVhile above description, taken in connection with the figures, shows a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 do not Wish to be limited by the details thereof, since the broad principles involved are capable oi; a varied application.

No claim is herein made to the method or means of severing the material it exudes from the machine, nor for means of conveying the cut briquettes to the drying members plant, for any standard cutting and conveying means are available for accoumlishing these ends.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In machines for manufacturing fuel briquettes from peat, means for subjecting the material to alternate shearing and torsion stresses, said means consisting of alternate sets of shearing blades and torsion revolving between stationary shearing members.

2. In a peat briquetting machine, means for subjecting the compressed material to an electrical charge, said means consisting of an even number of electrodes embedded in a forming die, said electrodes being charged alternately positively and negatively.

in a peat briquetting machine, means for subjecting the raw material to alternate shearing and torsion stresses, and in combination therewith means for subjecting the compressed material to an electrical charge.

JOHN CAMPBELL MORRISON. 

